PAs Salary Decreased in 2020 according to AAPA Salary Report
The AAPA has released the full salary report, showing a decrease in salaries for PAs in 2020. Median compensation decreased to $110,000, according to the report. This data contrasts the NCCPA report, which showed a slight increase in salaries for 2020.
One difference in how the data is collected is the NCCPA report includes information over three years, whereas the AAPA survey is for 2020 only. Another difference is the amount of PAs in the reports, with the AAPA survey completed by only 13,865 PAs, which would be less than 10% of certified PAs.
As the AAPA includes such a low number of respondents, it is beneficial to compare the data to other reports, such as the NCCPA and BLS.
New this year, the AAPA released an early report that only included some of the data. The full report gives a breakdown by state and looks at total compensation as base salary and bonus.
PAs in Emergency Medicine reported the highest median compensation of $117,000. Those working in Primary Care had the lowest reported median, of $105,000. Along with PA specialty, the type of employer also made a difference, with PAs working in the pharmaceutical industry earning the highest incomes.
The geographic region that PAs live in can also affect income, and the cost of living in that area might mean their salary goes further. The AAPA provides a breakdown of the actual base salary versus the cost-of-living adjusted base salary for each state which can be helpful.
If you’re looking for data on PA salaries, the AAPA report gives the best in-depth information. It is worth a look over if you’re planning on negotiating a salary. The report is free to AAPA members, so make sure to check it out if you’re a member.
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As a PA, we have not stopped working with the Pandemic. The work is over whelming, nonstop, virtual and in-person, and my salary/ benefits have gone up… sometimes I feel it’s more work than it’s worth; but I guess I grateful to God for having employment
That’s great that your hours and pay have not been negatively affected by the pandemic. Many were not not as lucky as you.
I think they should not only account for salary but also benefits.
I recently took a step back as I wanted to spend more time with my new born.
I went from a salary based off of 40 hrs weekly (really 70-80 hrs weekly when accounting for time spent on the computer reviewing consult notes, labs, and imaging, being on-call, and charting) to a salary based off of 30 hrs weekly (Truthfully 28 hrs weekly).
I make 6 dollars an hour more but I work less hours so my salary is less.
I had to pay a portion of my health insurance as well as pay for my wife and baby’s health insurance but now my employer pays 100% for my wife, the baby and myself. My current plan is from the same insurance company but a step up.
I did not get dental insurance but now my employer pays 100% for my wife, the baby and myself.
I had a 3% match 401k but now I do not have that.
I did not have an office but now I do.
I was seeing 30-35 patients a day and now I will see 3-5 patients a day but it has been slow so I have been seeing 3-5 patients weekly.
Overall, to me, I feel like I have gained so much more despite the fact that my salary has gone down.
Agreed! There is a lot that goes into deciding on a position and base salary and bonus is not the only thing to consider when looking at compensation.
Both the AAPA and the NCCPA need to do a better job of reporting locum tenens salaries both nationally and as a break down within specialty in subspecialtiesstill. This would provide a more accurate salary description. It would also be more consistent with the national nursing salary which have gone up significantly due to the traveler salary input.
I wonder how much that would make a difference? The number of PAs employed as locum tenens is probably small.
Too many non-quality programs, too many graduates, and not enough “equality” amongst accepted applicants! The PA work force now is predominantly female and, like it or not, it lowers salaries. Also, NP’s in many states need NO supervising physician which makes their hire more attractive. With virtually no significant selection process, the NP programs are producing quantity over quality and unfortunately, employers either don’t recognize this or don’t care…a major problem with administrators. Seems like all they want is a body! This, along with an alphabet soup of letters behind their names, suggests that they are well trained. I am not impacted much by employment as I own my own clinic and work ER’s (by contract) but I can appreciate the frustration PA’s are having with salaries and employment! I made much more than the $110,000 twenty years ago.
More 20 years ago? Thats great for you! How’d you do it? Speciality? Pick up shifts? Expert negotiator?
My salary increased in 2020. It increased again in 2021.
I think that was true for many but we also saw a lot of furloughs, layoffs and just overall less time working.